By 1974, when he was assigned ZANDY'S BRIDE, Swedish director Jan Troell had recently come into considerable fame as a hard-hitting, realistic portrayer of life in Sweden with his 1971 masterpiece, THE EMIGRANTS, starring Max von Sydow and the extremely beautiful Liv Ullmann.
Very wisely, Troell picked as male lead (Zandy) a facially non-descript actor, Gene Hackman, who also had recently risen to stardom with his Oscar for the role of Popeye Doyle in THE FRENCH CONNECTION. Hackman looks rugged and rough, the very type to raise cattle and live off the earth in 19th century rural USA, with little concern for social morés, a measure of respect for his father (whose wife treatment example he obviously endorses), and apparent disregard for his mother.
As the action goes, Zandy comes across a newspaper advert that a woman wishes to get married and he duly parts with $2 for a marriage license, and feels entitled to pretty much own the said woman to the point of slavery.
It is the dignity and self-respect of that woman, superlatively played by Ullmann, that spares her complete subjugation and captive status. Zandy sees her as a work mule and a womb to be fertilized so in time he can have male hands to help him around the farm. Nothing in Zandy's mindset detracts from the importance of money and of holding power over his woman.
No doubt feminists will find much to recriminate about ZANDY'S BRIDE, foremost the rape scene. As tragic and indefensible as his actions are, the fact that the film relates them so realistically and without pulling any punches should leave ashamed any man of any basic worth. They are a lesson on what to avoid in any relation with any human being, and in particular the female gender.
I have always found Ullmann one of the most beautiful women ever. Her eyes carry so much perseverance, determination, selflessness - and, ultimately, love - in this film that at times I felt I was in the same woodshed with her, watching her travails.
Excellent script, resting on sharp, clear and logical dialogue, by Forslund and Troell. Superb cinematography, especially of the countryside, including a memorably difficult horse ride by the sea.
Recommended viewing. 8/10.
